Washington Levies Penalties on Operation Alleged of Funneling South American Fighters to the Sudanese Conflict.
The US government has enforced penalties on a network of several persons and entities charged of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight for and train a militia force in Sudan the United States claims of genocidal acts.
Network Composition
Disclosing the measures on this week, the American treasury stated the network was primarily made up of Colombian nationals and companies.
Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been recruited to go to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF paramilitary group, a faction linked to severe violations including massacres based on ethnicity and mass abductions.
Discovery of Participation
The role of these mercenaries first came to light the previous year, after an inquiry which revealed that hundreds of ex-military personnel had been hired to fight – an event that resulted in an rare mea culpa from officials in Bogotá.
Colombian ex-soldiers have long been considered as among the world’s most sought-after mercenaries due to their considerable warzone knowledge gleaned from decades of civil war, knowledge of Nato equipment, and superior tactical education.
Activities in Sudan
In the Sudanese theater, the Colombians have been accused of teaching underage fighters, provided drone warfare training, and participated in direct battles. One source previously stated that working with child soldiers was "awful and crazy" but noted that "regrettably, war operates that way".
Sanctioned Individuals
Among those penalized was Álvaro Andrés Quijano Becerra, a citizen of both Colombia and Italy and retired Colombian military officer operating from the Dubai. The US authorities accused him a key part in hiring and sending former Colombian soldiers to Sudan. His spouse, Claudia Oliveros, was also sanctioned.
Also on the restricted list was Duque Botero, a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen who the Treasury stated ran a firm linked to handling funds and payroll for the network. "Recently, American entities associated with Duque conducted numerous wire transfers, worth millions," the government release said.
Individual Mónica Muñoz Ucros was the final person to be penalized, with the firm she operated accused of money transfers connected to Duque and his operations.
"The United States again calls on foreign parties to cease providing monetary and weaponry aid to the warring parties," the department announced.
Expert Analysis
An expert, with the International Crisis Group, labeled the sanctions as a "very significant" step, saying that "calling out those who are doing the contracting is the right way to go".
She added that, the Colombian government ratified a statute endorsing the global treaty against mercenarism, seeking to reduce decades of Colombian involvement in foreign conflicts and reshape national security policy.
A mercenary specialist, an expert on mercenaries, called for greater wariness, noting that "penalties are required yet incomplete for dealing with widespread use of contractors".
"This is a shadow economy and based out of the Emirates, which is difficult to penalize," he commented. The Emirati government has been repeatedly implicated of providing arms to the militia, an accusation it has denied. "This trend will probably continue," McFate warned.
